Author Archives: lisabenn

Craft tutorials archive work

Re-arranging this blog a bit recently I got rid of a few portfolio pages, but thought I’d write about them in a post…….

I’ve been doing craft tutorials since my daughters were at Primary School – I designed and hosted a lot craft workshops for parents, making lovely things to sell for Christmas and Summer school fairs/fundraisers, making Christmas decorations, wreaths, homemade sweets, lavender bags, jewellery etc.

Around this time I began producing designs and fabric samples for Mini Boden childrenswear t-shirts and nightwear . After seeing my sock dogs made at one of my workshops, I was given a bag of Mini-Boden socks from a photoshoot (still full of sand!) to see if I could produce a tutorial for the mail-order catalogue and website. SOCK FRIENDS was the result… I made a set of super-friendly monsters and animal toys along with instructions and diagrams. There was also a competition for children to send photos of their own sock creations.

I also added some easy sock fish to the tutorial which appeared in the Christmas catalogue.

A couple of years later I was asked to produce a craft tutorial using knitted tights , which became SOCK PETS (I called them Dogs n’ Draughties!)

Later that year I did tutorials for Pinatas for both school and Boden – the pinatas I made were used for press shows and photoshoots…and then left behind in Canada! I loved the orange hairy monster best!!

  • Pinatas for Mini Boden photoshoot.

Useful little bag

I made this little bag last weekend, using remnantsof ochre canvas and bits and bobs I had in the studio – It’s a birthday present for my brother. He’s a T.V cameraman – this little bag is to store his metal clamps so they don’t escape and roll around the floor of his van! Rather pleased with it, I fancy making a big version for me!

A visible mend

I’ve never had to mend one of my aprons before, but after 7 years continuous wearing and washing my favourite apron, some of the stitching had worn out. I could have repaired it with matching thread of course, but the power of visible mending is the outward demonstration of commitment to sustainable clothing – so I used red thread!

Waistcoats for park volunteers – update

Last year during lockdown I worked with the Friends of Brookmill Park (St.Johns, Depftford, SE London) to design a distinctive waistcoat for the volunteers…and here they are hard at work! Following the design consultations I drafted sewing patterns, making instructions and samples. One of the volunteers made the waistcoats and another made the prints for the back.

The park is a few minutes from from my house. It’s quite a narrow park along the banks of the River Ravensbourne between Eleverson Road DLR station and The Stephen Lawrence Centre – it has gardens, a lake, childrens play area and diverse wildlife. Find out more about the park and volunteering at brookmillpark.deptfordcreek.net

In The Making Aprons – online shop open

It’s been a long time coming … but my own In The Making – Aprons online shop is now open, find it at in.the making.uk

The final kick up the butt came from doing the PR Despatch tutorials, learning that a website/shop is the professional way of expressing my brand values and aesthetics and improves SEO to my products – they also point out that press/media features usually say ‘available from Etsy’ and may not even mention In The Making – Aprons … I also know Etsy shows all sorts of other aprons distracting from my own products. Etsy is great, I won’t be dropping it, but it’s a vast crowded platform with an ever increasing number of extra fees for sellers, so it will be good to give In The Makers – Aprons a wider reach.

NEW Bright orange No4:5!

Get your sunglasses out for the new vibrant orange No4:5! Made with 100% cotton drill, a smooth very close woven fabric that water and muckiness won’t easily penetrate. The split skirt feature of this apron is ideal for sitting at the wheel or work bench and the crossback design means it’s comfortable to wear all day long.

A special one

I made this apron last month, a birthday present for my niece, she needs aprons for her job at a little restaurant in Seattle. It’s made with 8oz denim with pockets made from different shade denim remnants. It needed to be a versatile but simple design, that is very easy to wear – ideally forget you’re even wearing it! I’m keen to expand on this design to introduce more colour/fabric combinations into the range and use fabric remnants to make one off pieces for the ‘Boro Collection’.

New colour for No23:2 ultimate makers apron!

No23:2 in black canvas – my ultimate crafters apron, packed with useful features! Split leg skirt, cargo pockets, skirt pocket, crossback adjustable straps, tough cotton canvas…and comfy too. Split leg aprons are great for ‘sitting down’ type of making activities, opening to give more movement and comfort. With this in mind I did lots of work on the design of the bib/cargo pockets so that they remain upright and accessible when the wearer is seated.

New apron for the Boro Collection No16.6

Constructed using denim remnants left from making my No4 aprons, balancing the shade differences to piece together one unique garment. Taking inspiration from Japanese Boro clothing and vintage French and American rustic aprons, my Boro Collection reduces waste whilst creating something useful and unusual that will last for years to come. This apron uses the No4:6 pattern, with asymmetric bib, crossback strapa and overlapped split skirt – a super comfortable design in medium weight denim. It’s worked so well I want to copy it to include in the main range!